DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PASSES PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE LEGISLATION

On December 20th, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law a bill allowing doctors to prescribe lethal medications to terminally ill patients who want to end their lives.

Congress has to approve all laws in the district and has 30 days to review it. The earliest the law could take effect is October, 2017.

In November, a majority of the 13-member District of Columbia City Council, by voice vote, approved the "Death with Dignity Act" that permits physicians in the District of Columbia to legally prescribe the drugs to patients who have been deemed mentally competent and who have received a terminal diagnosis of six months or less.  There was no debate before the vote was taken.

Michael Scott, director of the District of Columbia Catholic Conference, in commenting on the council’s action, stated:  "Once again council members who voted for the legislation failed to address serious public policy concerns raised by the broad and diverse coalition opposing the legislation.”

If the law takes effect, the District would be the nation's latest jurisdiction to allow doctors to assist the terminally ill to kill themselves. Five states -- Vermont, Oregon, Washington state, Montana and New Mexico -- currently approve assisted suicide. In a November election, Colorado residents approved a proposition legalizing physician-assisted suicide there.  Similar physician-assisted suicide laws have been introduced and have failed in 22 states.

Pope Paul VI of happy memory was ridiculed for having stated that the acceptance of laws permitting abortion would lead eventually to the passage of laws permitting euthanasia.  It now seems that the Holy Father’s prophetic insight has been vindicated.

The culture of death continues to wage a constant assault upon the dignity of the individual person as a unique reflection of God Himself to be treasured and protected at every stage of life, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

May the voices of faith and reason join in defense of life.  In that effort, prayer is our greatest resource.  May the Lord bless all those who continue to invest energy and effort to defend the right to life of every human being.